Look West: Public lands and energy news from the Center for Western Priorities
** Court tosses federal coal leasing moratorium
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Thursday, February 22, 2024
Coal mine in Gillette, Wyoming by Greg Goebel ([link removed]) , CC BY-SA 2.0 ([link removed])
A federal appeals court on Wednesday ended a nationwide ban ([link removed]) on new federal coal leases, but it's not clear that new leasing will resume any time soon.
The moratorium originated during the Obama administration, was rescinded by then-Interior secretary Ryan Zinke during the Trump administration, and was reinstated by a court in 2022. A three-judge panel on the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals found that the 2022 ruling was moot, since the Zinke order had been effectively rescinded ([link removed]) by President Biden's Interior secretary, Deb Haaland.
While the mining industry called the latest ruling a victory ([link removed]) , it does not require the Biden administration to resume coal leasing. A coalition of Tribal and environmental groups called on the Biden administration to put an end to the federal coal leasing program entirely.
“Now that the court has ruled that the Trump administration decision to restart coal leasing was revoked, we need the Biden administration to step up and live up to its promises to protect our climate, conduct a long overdue review of the federal coal leasing program, and make thoughtful plans for the future of public lands," said William Walksalong ([link removed]) , the Northern Cheyenne Tribal Administrator.
** Quick hits
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County supervisors double down on opposition to uranium mine near Grand Canyon
KNAU ([link removed])
Opinion: Ash Meadows Wildlife Refuge must be defended from mining threats
Las Vegas Sun ([link removed])
9th Circuit ruling ends Obama-era freeze on coal leasing
NPR ([link removed]) | The Hill ([link removed]) | Bloomberg Law ([link removed]) | Courthouse News ([link removed]) | Associated Press ([link removed]) | E&E News ([link removed])
Wyoming considers using conservation funds to pay ranchers when elk eat grass
WyoFile ([link removed])
New Mexico governor's strategy to use oil and gas wastewater evaporates
E&E News ([link removed])
Alaska and Wyoming look at using carbon capture to prop up fossil fuel industry
Alaska Beacon ([link removed]) | WyoFile ([link removed])
Montana court restricts groundwater use for new homes
New York Times ([link removed]) | Montana Free Press ([link removed])
Editorial: When extremists are writing Idaho laws, we're in trouble
Idaho Statesman ([link removed])
** Quote of the day
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” When U.S. senators and representatives, members of the military, the vice president and members of the Cabinet take the oath of office, they say, ‘I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.’ It doesn’t say, ‘and domestic only when they’re affiliated with a foreign entity.’”
—Idaho Statesman Editorial Board ([link removed])
** Picture This
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@deathvalleynps ([link removed])
After reviewing the feedback, we decided to keep the lake on Badwater Basin. You all seem to really like it, and honestly after the recent rain we had no choice.
We are fully embracing our water era.
Death Valley is the driest place in North America, typically receiving about 2 inches of rain per year. The official weather gauge at Furnace Creek has measured 4.9 inches in the past six months, with most of that happening in just two events: the remnants of Hurricane Hilary (2.2 inches on August 20) and the recent atmospheric river (1.5 inches from February 4-7).
📍 Badwater Basin
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